France set a new national team winning record with their 2-0 Euro 2024 qualifying Group B triumph over the Republic of Ireland on Thursday night.
Didier Deschamps's men entered the clash at the Parc des Princes sitting pretty at the summit with four wins from four against the Netherlands, Greece, Gibraltar and Ireland, whom they had previously overcome 1-0 in Dublin six months ago.
That day, a Benjamin Pavard wonder goal sealed victory for Les Bleus, but Aurelien Tchouameni arguably bettered the Inter Milan defender's effort with a rocket from outside the box to open the scoring in the first half.
France were then hit with a 26th-minute injury blow as Olivier Giroud had to be taken off the field, but his replacement - Marcus Thuram - made sure of the result three minutes into the second period.
The 26-year-old swivelled inside the area before directing a powerful effort into the roof of the net, and goalkeeper Mike Maignan produced a fine reaction save from Chiedozie Ogbene to preserve Les Bleus' clean sheet.
By keeping the Boys in Green at bay en route to victory, France's men's team have now won five successive competitive matches without conceding a goal for the first time ever, having also shut out the Netherlands (4-0), Greece (1-0) and Gibraltar (3-0) since the 2022 World Cup final.
France had previously gone five Euro 2008 qualifiers without conceding against Faroe Islands, Lithuania, Ukraine and Georgia and Italy between October 2006 and September 2007, but they were held to a 0-0 draw against the Azzurri in the final game of that sequence.
Deschamps's side are also one of only two teams yet to concede a goal in Euro 2024 qualifying alongside Portugal, although the Selecao have played one fewer game than Les Bleus.
France's success saw them maintain a nine-point advantage over the Netherlands and Greece at the top of the standings after Oranje overcame Gus Poyet's men 3-0, although Deschamps admitted that the margin of victory could have been greater.
"We did everything we had to do to win with around ten goal-scoring opportunities against an aggressive team sitting deep. The only regret is not having scored more goals. But overall, I'm very satisfied and proud of my team," Deschamps told a press conference.
"It's not just the defensive players. Everyone is focused as soon as we lose the ball. We are also not going to take the credit away from Mike Maignan. Above all, we have this ability to defend well together."
Meanwhile, Giroud was asked about the severity of his ankle problem in the mixed zone after the match, but he played down the issue to journalists, saying: "I don't think it's too serious.
"I will undergo tests, but I'm already hobbling a lot less. The medical situation at this moment in time is very reassuring. It's a bit unlucky, I will perhaps have to strap the ankle to strengthen it, but it hasn't been bad these past weeks."
France now take a break from competitive duties to face Euro 2024 hosts Germany in a friendly at Borussia Dortmund's Signal Iduna Park on Tuesday night. body check tags ::
